James Carville Slams Obama on Oil Spill Response

AP

Democratic political strategist James Carville, a resident of Louisiana, slammed President Obama this morning for the "political stupidity" of his response to the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

"The president doesn't get down here in the middle of this... I have no idea of why they didn't seize this thing," Carville said on ABC's "Good Morning America." "I have no idea of why their attitude was so hands off here."

The White House has been on the defensive about its response to the spill, which began when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded on April 20, killing 11 people. Millions of gallons of oil have already spilled into the Gulf, and government agencies are still working with BP to try and cap the leak.

The administration is stressing the fact that it has sent thousands of response vessels and thousands of personnel, including top cabinet officials, to the scene. However, the president himself has only made one brief appearance in the region since the spill began and has only spoken publicly about the incident six times in the past five weeks, according to CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller.

A CBS News poll released yesterday shows 35 percent of people approve of the administration's handling of the spill, while 45 percent disapprove.

"The president of the United States could've come down here, he could've been involved with the families of these 11 people" who died in the explosion, Carville said. "He could've demanded a plan in anticipation of this."

He added, "It just looks like he's not involved in this. Man, you got to get down here and take control of this."

Mr. Obama will head back to the Louisiana Gulf Coast on Friday. On Thursday, he is scheduled to receive a report from Interior Secretary Salazar on the spill and will take questions from reporters on the situation. He is also expected to announce new, strengthened inspections for offshore drilling, the Washington Post reports.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Disaster in the Gulf
Obama Primed to Take More Active Role on Oil Spill
Is Blame Shifting From BP to the Government?

Watch the interview below:

[cbaustintx]

I normally don't like James Carville, but he's dead on with this situation. It reminds me of the Abbott and Costello comedy routine, Who's on First? The President needs to show the people of this country that he's in charge and not just talk about being in charge. In other words, action. I doubt that will happen. He's the greatest orator of the 21st century but unfortunately just talking doesn't get the job done. He should have a weekly television address updating us on the biggest natural disaster in US history. The lines of communication are lacking at the moment. Also, why aren't Halliburton and Transocean being held accountable?

[iLuvUSA]

So, Tea Party people are called hate-mongers and racists; but not so when a DEMOCRAT (Carville) screams for the Feds to wake-up and listen to a plight of non-Elite Americans. These non-Elites just, by chance have a Voice simply because Carville just happens to live there. Interesting that he changes his tune when the Obama aloofness affects HIM and his state.

Don't get me wrong - Carville is right, and we're all glad he IS screaming.It's just very sad to realize that he probably would not be screaming if he lived far away from the pain of the Gulf spill.

Middle America has been screaming for someone in the Obama circle to listen and CARE about the unemployment, open borders, bailout mania, bank failures, Fed institutional takeovers......and these same citizens are called "teabaggers", hate-mongers, racists.

Carville doesn't need an event to be able to speak-he has his own podium. Is he a "Teabagger" of one, a hate-monger, a racist????

Tell, me- what is the difference between his plight and everyone else's?

[RatPackSixGun]

That's a GREAT shot of Carville. It truly captures the spirit of his ogre self.

Ironically and amusingly, he's almost right on this one. Obama is zigging when he should have zagged. Apparently on-the-job training and experience positions should be relegated back to the mail room and not he oval office.

So a hurricane hammers the hell out of New Orleans and somehow it's the fault of the Republicans for not having already signed some mystical peace armistice with mother nature that could have prevented it.

But now the moveon.org spin jockeys and the teary-eyed party faithful at the Marx alter on the curb of 1600 Pennsy want to selectively skewer BP as some sort of get-your-60s-vide-out-of-the-attic, business-is-satan love fest.... and ignore the fact that Obama's own appointees that should have provided oversight and regulation out on those platforms were too busy cozying up to the Union mobsters to notice the storm coming. Greed isn't biased; it's corrupted this administration no differently but certainly much sooner than any of the WH predecessors.

Democrats: you all deserve each other.

[generey]

James Carville is not only ugly but also nothing but a loud, mouthy arrogant dilldo punk.

[toldyouso21]

The president doesn't get down here in the middle of this... I have no idea of why they didn't seize this thing," Carville said on ABC's "Good Morning America." "I have no idea of why their attitude was so hands off here"


BECAUSE JAMES.... The hands of the Obama Administration (and various depts in government as well as previous administrations before him, are so deep into the pockets of Big oil, Big pharm, and Wall Street, that they can't take them out long enough to actually regulate and handle the real mess down there.

A close scrutiny of those other agencies and the depts they regulate will show a similar level of misconduct--we could look for it--or wait for the crap to hit the fan--like it did for the oil industry.

We all KNOW what the deal is and those of us who are not partisan (Rep or Dem) are not afraid to call it out.

[RatPackSixGun]

Exactly. Greed and corruption are not biased and both parties are up to their eyebrows in it.

[joanie357]

James Carville is sharing the Strong Feelings of people all accross the country. President Obama is Not Doing Enough to take charge of this Environmental Catastrophe. He is was it up to BP , and they are not preventing the oil from ruining the Marshes. He is not giving The Govenor of Louisana Bobby Jingal the Go Ahead to place sandbags down to protect the Marshes. No Contact for 12 Days. He is just enjoying the Partying part of the Presidents job and Campaigning and not performing the Leadership part of his job. Where are the Super tankers to suck up the Oil as it surfaces? Instead EPA is using toxic Dispersments to camaflage the situation. What happened to GREEN ???

[d55may]

THIS PRESIDENT CAN'T PUT DOWN THE FUND RAISING FORK OR HIS GOLF CLUBS LONG ENOUGH TO DO HIS JOB. CAN'T MAKE A LEADER OUT OF A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.

[bulldog_1990]

James Carville is right on. Obama and his leadership are just ignoring the oil spill. I am surprised this problem has been left to fester the way it has. My expectation is that there should be daily briefings carried on all the major channels. This might be the worst environmental disaster in history and it feels like it is an acceptable loss according to Obama.

[d55may]

Maybe while campaigning, President Obama should have been a bit kinder to President Bush.

[RobAla]

Sounds like this President is doing the same old "Katrina thing" with Louisiana. Nope, he has better things to do - like campaigning and throwing expensive parties.

[d55may]

Not the same, President Bush didn't golf or fund raise while ignoring Katrina or 9/11

[jonathanturk]

The national news (ABC,NBC,CBS) is only on for 30 minutes and around half of that is commercials, so I do not need to see James Carville crying like a baby. What does he expect the President to do; put on scuba gear, and go down to plug the hole? Private business caused it, and private business needs to take care of it. The government does not need to do everything, and if BP can not get the job done right the first time, try, try again until they find a way to plug the hole. They were not ready in case this happened, and how can the government be expected to know how to plug the hole? Put the pressure on private business to take of this. I sometimes watch the national news, but now, am tired of seeing crap like this James Carville on ABC News. I have better things to do than watch this.

[soundloud]

BP will try again and again, if they cant then let the ocean be covered with oil. What does BP care, its our beaches and our livelihood. President should involve and push BP and find out what their agenda is, not on their own sweet time, but on our time. If couple of more moronic oil companies drill and make this mistakes, and then you would surrounded by oil, and not by water. You may not be a sea food lover, but we are.
Genius Sarah Palin wants to drill more in the unchartered waters, even after this spill, as she does not give a damn except her own pocket. So wake up and think clearly, you may not have clean beaches or good sea food or above all we would lose our precious enviornment.
We have the best brains of the world, but they are sitting on the side lines because of our government and the stupid BP. Its time President to take control, to save our ocean, and we dont care whether he wears a scuba gear, but direct the secretaries and others to do the job, as BP does not know what the hell they are doing. You are not seeing the problem or dont care but we do.....

[soundloud]

BP will try again and again, if they cant then let the ocean be covered with oil. What does BP care, its our beaches and our livelihood. President should involve and push BP and find out what their agenda is, not on their own sweet time, but on our time. If couple of more moronic oil companies drill and make this mistakes, and then you would surrounded by oil, and not by water. You may not be a sea food lover, but we are.
Genius Sarah Palin wants to drill more in the unchartered waters, even after this spill, as she does not give a damn except her own pocket. So wake up and think clearly, you may not have clean beaches or good sea food or above all we would lose our precious enviornment.
We have the best brains of the world, but they are sitting on the side lines because of our government and the stupid BP. Its time President to take control, to save our ocean, and we dont care whether he wears a scuba gear, but direct the secretaries and others to do the job, as BP does not know what the hell they are doing. You are not seeing the problem or dont care but we do.....

[soundloud]

This is the difference between republican and a democrat.When a democrat makes a mistake, the other democrats would critixize, and they wont take the party line, but republicans will never open their mouth against another republican. Look at Rush Limbaugh, no republicans criticize him , no matter what he does. That is why I have my doubts about republicans, as they love their party, more than the country. I salute Carville, if President is wrong, criticize him, and make a better country, than rallying around the party lines even when they make mistakes.